Second Test. SA v England. Cape Town, Jan 2-6

[backfootpunch]

That Lord's track was not a flat one. Even this one is not a flat track either.

Neither was the one at the waca

Had enormous cracks in it

[Dr Cricket]

Flat might be the wrong word, but he obviously likes batting when the pitch has pace and bounce.

[backfootpunch]

With Stokes, you will always see him fail in 4-5 innings. However, he has it in him to change the course of the game in a short space of time. You want such players in your side. Players like him should not be looked through just averages.

I would imagine consistency will come further down the line

[backfootpunch]

Flat might be the wrong word, but he obviously likes batting when the pitch has pace and bounce.

All batsmen like the ball coming on to the bat

He's going to play 75% of his career in england, Australia, New Zealand and south africa so that isn't a problem

Hopefully given time he will learn to adapt his game to Asian conditions

[Dr Cricket]

Flat might be the wrong word, but he obviously likes batting when the pitch has pace and bounce.

All batsmen like the ball coming on to the bat

He's going to play 75% of his career in england, Australia, New Zealand and south africa so that isn't a problem

Hopefully given time he will learn to adapt his game to Asian conditions

England/nz is not quick or bouncy.
so really only 10-25% of the time.
with his hard hand not sure he will have great time batting in england either.
not attacking Stoke here, do actually like him.

[Dr Cricket]

Anyway stokes might prove me wrong by being consistent with the bat this year.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Just watched those two Rabada wickets of successive balls, my word they were close to no balls. The second one I would suggest he was lucky to get away with. The SA cameraman cleverly froze the film at the point that 1mm of foot behind the line!

[The Professor]

He won't grab the headlines like Stokes or Hales but I was tremendously impressed with Bairstow today.

I can't imagine two more contrasting innings than the one that he played today compared to the one in the First Test. He was happy to play second fiddle to Stokes and act as his foil where a last time out he had to force the issue himself. A player who can mould himself around what the team need at that one time is a key one - and that goes beyond any statistics that anyone can churn out. If he tightens up his wicket keeping Jos might be in a spot of bother.

Rest of the team in one word:
Cook - Worrying
Hales - Cavalier
Compton - Unlucky
Root - Careless

[Making_Splinters]

Don't see how you can say Compton was unlucky, it was a daft shot to play on the stroke of tea when the ball could have been easily left. Compton clearly let the criticism about his strike rate from the first test get to him, he played several rash shots throughout his innings in complete contrast to the control he looked to have in the first Test.

[The Professor]

Shot was firmly hit was unlucky to have found a fielder.

I agree he is afraid of singles at the moment though. It is either block or boundary at the moment.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Don't see how you can say Compton was unlucky, it was a daft shot to play on the stroke of tea when the ball could have been easily left. Compton clearly let the criticism about his strike rate from the first test get to him, he played several rash shots throughout his innings in complete contrast to the control he looked to have in the first Test.

That's true. But there has been some promise on show, admittedly against a weakened attack. If he calibrates his game a little, he looks like he could belong. He is still inexperienced at this level.

[alfie]

Ended up an excellent day for England. Some rather careless batting threatened to squander the advantage of winning the toss and getting a good start , but Stokes and Bairstow did a fine job of carving up some tired SA bowling late in the evening. That four man attack always looked vulnerable.

Judging from the first over this morning , more of the same to come. Stokes doesn't half give it a whack !

[Gingerfinch]

A nice cover drive from Stokes in the first over.

[alfie]

The tactic of bowling full outside off stump to Stokes seems a little ill advised

After four cover driven boundaries in seven balls they might have noticed...

Short now but more runs . 74 to 97 in two overs

[Arthur Crabtree]

Morning/evening chaps.

Superb pull from Jonny Bairstow.